Nvidia To Recall Every 8800 GTX/GTS Card

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Nvidia To Recall Every 8800 GTX/GTS Card

Posted by Zonk on Saturday March 31, 2007 @07:43PM from the cardtastrophie dept.

SlashRating^© 42 slashdottit! ^tm Bill Stubbs writes "NVIDIA has admitted to a killer bug in all GeForce 8800GTX/GTS cards, and will recall all affected cards and replace them. 'An NVIDIA engineer, who wishes to remain anonymous, has just clued us in on the whole deal. This engineer claims that while allegations of poor gaming performance are correct, the reason is not really poor drivers. Brace yourself for the truth: Right after the G80 was taped out, NVIDIA discovered a bug in the vertex shader that causes the GPU to generate slightly incorrect geometry transformation data. The difference was minimal enough to escape attention but it was significant enough to render a scene incorrectly.' The article also links to a secret website which will allow gamers to purchase Nvidia cards at cost."

89 of 134 comments (clear)

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*whew* by Anonymous Coward · 2007-03-31 19:44 · Score: 4, Funny

Well, at least I won't have to worry about that problem because I have my awesome Radeon 9200 32MB. Thanks, Apple!
1. Re:*whew* by WatcherXP · 2007-03-31 20:07 · Score: 1
  
  Would expect better from Slashdot.
  
  Oh wait.. nevermind.
  
  --
  09-f9-11-02-9* (G^GCA_++{>. RV>>>>+++ NO CARRIER
Here we go... by StarvingSE · 2007-03-31 19:45 · Score: 2, Informative

Happy April 1st everyone.... fp

--
I got nothin'
1. Re:Here we go... by Anonymous Coward · 2007-03-31 19:51 · Score: 1, Insightful
  
  Last year's pink make over was better. I weep for past joys.
2. Re:Here we go... by Evets · 2007-03-31 20:37 · Score: 1
  
  Your vote in the Slashdottit system will help insure the best stories are presented to our readers, with hyper accurate numbers to indicate their relevance and general awesomeness. Only by requiring the contribution of every random user of the internet can we guarantee the most scientifically perfect numbers will be generated. These numbers will guarantee that every story that appears on Slashdot will be interesting, insightful, and flawless. Vote early, vote often.
  
  I saw those things and I thought to myself "No! Not slashdot!" Hysterical.
3. Re:Here we go... by Agret · 2007-04-01 17:40 · Score: 1
  
  The page admitting that it's just an April Fools: http://www.techarp.com/0104.htm
  
  --
  Have you metaroderated recently?
4. Re:Here we go... by scumbaguk · 2007-04-02 02:29 · Score: 1
  
  Personaly I think it's pretty discusting that they put a artical out like this knowing full well in the internet world ripples like this take a long time to dispel and will no doubt be paraded as truth for some time.
  
  The thing that makes me sick about it, is the fact they used it as a cheap publicity stunt advertising their BIOS's. Nothing wrong with stunts but when they intentionaly harm another companys reputation to sell a few bios's, well........I hope they get their ass sued off.
Whoa by The+Bungi · 2007-03-31 19:49 · Score: 5, Insightful

I know this is April Fool's and all, and it looks like this year we were spared the pink ponies, but isn't this a tad close to starting a harmful rumor? People are stupid, and nVidia is a publicly traded company. I think there's enough crap to make fun of without having to resort to this type of thing? Just IMO.
1. Re:Whoa by aussie_a · 2007-03-31 20:00 · Score: 1
  
  Actually, according to Google this is authentic news
2. Re:Whoa by suv4x4 · 2007-03-31 20:12 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  I know this is April Fool's and all, and it looks like this year we were spared the pink ponies, but isn't this a tad close to starting a harmful rumor? People are stupid, and nVidia is a publicly traded company. I think there's enough crap to make fun of without having to resort to this type of thing? Just IMO.
  
  You know, expecting real news on a news site doesn't make you stupid.
  
  What makes you stupid is posting lies on your news site just because it's "April's Fool's day" or something of that sort.
  
  And what the hell do we read "slashdottit" like"? Slash Dot... Tit?
3. Re:Whoa by Kelson · 2007-03-31 20:12 · Score: 1
  
  Actually, there isn't anything at that link but a link back to this story.
  
  Well, not yet. Wait until the echo chamber that is the Internet gets into full swing...
4. Re:Whoa by Jah-Wren+Ryel · 2007-03-31 20:15 · Score: 1
  
  I know this is April Fool's and all, and it looks like this year we were spared the pink ponies, but isn't this a tad close to starting a harmful rumor? People are stupid, and nVidia is a publicly traded company. I think there's enough crap to make fun of without having to resort to this type of thing? Just IMO.
  I totally agree with you!!!
  
  The absolute worst April Fools jokes are the ones that ACTUALLY FOOL PEOPLE!
  
  --
  When information is power, privacy is freedom.
5. Re:Whoa by sxpert · 2007-03-31 20:16 · Score: 1
  
  the first article pointing back to here :D
6. Re:Whoa by tomblag · 2007-03-31 20:26 · Score: 1
  
  In-Commode Package Delivery ? http://www.google.com/tisp/install.html?
7. Re:Whoa by alfrin · 2007-03-31 20:26 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  What makes you stupid is posting lies on your news site just because it's "April's Fool's day" or something of that sort.
  
  Last time I checked the whole April Fools articles has been a tradition here on Slashdot and most members here are well aware of it and, dare I saw, enjoy trying to sort out the real articles from the fakes. Do you expect the complete truth out of the news anyways? Or on an internet news site?
  
  Chill out
8. Re:Whoa by Anonymous Coward · 2007-03-31 20:33 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  Maybe not, but reacting/responding solely to a headline without context does, in fact, require one to be stupid - a fool, even.
9. Re:Whoa by Anonymous Coward · 2007-03-31 20:41 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  You know, expecting real news on a news site doesn't make you stupid.
  What makes you stupid is posting lies on your news site just because it's "April's Fool's day" or something of that sort.
  Note to friends of suv4x4:
  Never pull a prank on suv4x4. Instead of laughing, suv4x4 will whine and complain about the "lies" you told.
  Never watch The Simpsons with suv4x4. Instead of enjoying a good show, suv4x4 will complain about Bart Simpson still looking 10 years old, even though he should be about 30 years old by now (debut on Tracy Ullman show in 1987).
  Never invite suv4x4 to any parties. Suv4x4 is guaranteed to be a downer.
  For fuck's sake! It's April 1st. Lighten up, suv4x4. And choose a less stupid nickname (unless you're mocking SUV owners. If you are, great nick dude!).
10. Re:Whoa by suv4x4 · 2007-03-31 20:42 · Score: 1
  
  ... most members here are well aware of it and, dare I saw ...
  
  someone's confusing April's fools day with Halloween here.
11. Re:Whoa by kjart · 2007-03-31 20:46 · Score: 1, Interesting
  
  You know, expecting real news on a news site doesn't make you stupid.
  
  No, but not understanding it's a joke does make you stupid. Sorry.
  What makes you stupid is posting lies on your news site just because it's "April's Fool's day" or something of that sort.
  
  I know, something untrue on the internet - frankly, I'm shocked.
12. Re:Whoa by suv4x4 · 2007-03-31 20:54 · Score: 1
  
  Never watch The Simpsons with suv4x4. Instead of enjoying a good show, suv4x4 will complain about Bart Simpson still looking 10 years old, even though he should be about 30 years old by now (debut on Tracy Ullman show in 1987).
  
  I wonder how many more years it'll take YOU to grow older than 10 year old. The Simpsons isn't aired during CNN Breaking News report, there's no deception.
  
  But explaining the difference to a 10 year old is tough.
13. Re:Whoa by Plutonite · 2007-03-31 21:04 · Score: 1
  
  Investors should take a break on April 1st, and it's Sunday anyway. All effects to the stock of a company, if any, should be short lived as "sly" investors would rush back upon realisation of the joke hoping to benefit from the dip in price. Result is that the price would shoot back up, maybe even landing a coupla feet further than it was in the first place. Clowns.
14. Re:Whoa by srujan1.1beta · 2007-03-31 21:23 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah man... I totally agree with u. The only ones who read this news article would in all probability already know its an April 1st joke. So who are they fooling
15. Re:Whoa by Proofof.+Chaos · 2007-03-31 21:28 · Score: 1
  
  You know, expecting real news on a news site doesn't make you stupid. What makes you stupid is posting lies on your news site just because it's "April's Fool's day" or something of that sort. No shiat. It's one thing when The Washington Post or CNN tell lies, but when I can't trust something I read on the internet, there's no hope left for society. Next you'll tell me that Barac Obama isn't a member of an Islamic terrorist organization.
16. Re:Whoa by Cap'nPedro · 2007-03-31 21:34 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah, I've just bought an 8800GTX, in the UK. £350 is about $690; that's a lot of cash for a 16-year-old to be spending at once. Seeing that in your morning RSS feeds before thinking about the date is damn scary.
  
  Honestly, I was expecting something more to do with ponies and such, rather than cheap scare tactics.
17. Re:Whoa by Calibax · 2007-04-01 00:39 · Score: 2
  
  Is the best you can do some questionable rumor from 7 years ago?
18. Re:Whoa by nomadic · 2007-04-01 02:02 · Score: 1
  
  members here are well aware of it and, dare I saw, enjoy trying to sort out the real articles from the fakes.
  
  Yeah, that's such an amazing intellectual challenge...
19. Re:Whoa by mikael · 2007-04-01 03:00 · Score: 1
  
  Here's the actual admission that this is a April Fool's Joke
  
  The actual "secret page"
  
  One Last Question... Congratulations! If you made it this far, we are pretty sure you are NOT an NVIDIA lawyer, or from ATI. Have a beer on us. We have just one more question for you... Do you know what day it is today? Yes, my friend, it's April 1st. Adrian's uncle was born on this day, but it's really more commonly known as April Fool's Day. Unfortunately, there is no secret page where you can buy cheap NVIDIA cards. How we wish it were true though. Graphics cards are so very expensive. The good news is that there is no such bug in the vertex shader of the G80. So, if you are an owner of GeForce 8800 GTX/GTS cards, you can relax on that count. Your oh-so-expensive graphics cards are not crippled in any way. But if you are one of those who were, just moments ago, feeling vindicated that it was the card that caused your gaming skills to suffer, we are sorry to bust your chops but as they say, don't blame the tool, blame the user. Why Two Editorials? Well, we couldn't decide which joke to go with. The NVIDIA editorial was more serious and more likely to fool more people, thanks to the serious types of questions we used. But we felt that the AMD editorial had a truly funny series of question that's probably more in line with the spirit of April Fool's Day. In the end, we decided to run with both. A serious one to try to catch as many people off-guard.. and a funny one just for laughs. Before You Leave... We hope you enjoyed the little soiree. Remember, it is the journey that counts, not the destination. With that said, you should be proud of your achievement. After all, you are one of the few who have taken the effort to get to this end. For that, you should not go unrewarded. Unfortunately, we have no rebates or special sales of ATI or NVIDIA graphics cards to offer you. But as a token of our appreciation for your participation, we can offer you a discount on our online BIOS Optimization Guide subscriptions. Normally, subscriptions go for £6 for 3 months and £12 for a full year. But you can now subscribe for only £5 for 3 months and £10 for a full year. Just use the coupon code 0104 when you register. You can subscribe for as many years as you like. Even though the system only allows you to choose between 3 months and 1 year subscriptions, just select the 1 year subscription even if you want to subscribe for several years. We will adjust it manually on our end to reflect the subscription fees paid. Current BOG subscribers can extend their subscriptions using this coupon code. Just e-mail Adrian at awsh @ techarp.com with your login and payment details. In addition, if you are a member of our Tech ARP forums, you can PM any of the admins with the 0104 code and we will give you a special 0104 rank to commemorate your achievement. If you are not yet a forum member, well, what are you waiting for? Disclaimer Please note that the "facts" and questions and answers in the previous pages do not necessarily reflect the personal or professional opinions of anyone at Team ARP. They were created with comic intent in mind.
  
  --
  Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads
20. Re:Whoa by Crizp · 2007-04-01 04:13 · Score: 1
  
  If all our news sources were like that, then real news would be taken for a joke and people would be oblivious that they REALLY bought a deffective Nvidia.
  
  Today I read an article about a machine installed at an airport for automatically declaring and paying customs, so one doesn't have to deal with pesky uniformed personnel. It was demonstrated by our Minister of Finance. I think this is the year's April Fool's joke.
  
  In the 70's, NRK (Norwegian equivalent of Auntie Beeb) broadcast a story saying that the "Wine Monopoly" (national alcohol sales monopoly) would be dumping cheap surplus wine and encouraged people to show up at the salespoints with buckets.
  
  The queues spanned city blocks. It's our version of the BBC's Spaghetti Trees, their most successful prank ever.
  
  Large, respected news media take great joy in trying to make fools of all of us. Because everyone (except you, apparently) knows that April 1st is the one day you should not trust any news source, and instead try and figure out what is this year's prank.
  
  Lighten up.
21. Re:Whoa by ddent · 2007-04-01 10:48 · Score: 1
  
  "but isn't this a tad close to starting a harmful rumor? People are stupid, and nVidia is a publicly traded company."
  
  So a better plan would be to start a harmful rumour against a small private company that is struggling?
  
  --
  SSL Certificate
22. Re:Whoa by Travoltus · 2007-04-01 18:32 · Score: 1
  
  All stories on April 1st should be ignored; if they're serious, they should be brought up the next day.
  
  It won't be long before April 1st jokes become a major engine for producing new libel & slander lawsuits.
  
  --
  --- Grow a pair, liberals... stop letting the Republicans bully you!
23. Re:Whoa by meimeiriver · 2007-04-03 02:22 · Score: 1
  
  I know this is April Fool's and all, and it looks like this year we were spared the pink ponies, but isn't this a tad close to starting a harmful rumor? Well, I'd say people only call it a "harmful rumor" because it has the ring of truth. Not gullibility or anything, but the simple fact that the 8800 GTX driver situation has, indeed, been so deplorable, is what prompts folks to call this news a "harmful rumor". It's a sour reality for nVidia, of course; but, in all fairness, one of their own making.
0104.htm by FMota91 · 2007-03-31 19:54 · Score: 2, Informative

Nice way for http://www.techarp.com/ to try and sell us their products...

--
09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C1 bottles of beer on the wall. Take one down, pass it round... Oh, umm...
April Fool's Day by Renraku · 2007-03-31 19:56 · Score: 4, Insightful

Just an excuse to be a lying asshole and get away with it. Much like alcohol, or drugs.

--
Job? I don't have time to get a job! Who will sit around and bitch about being broke and unemployed then?
1. Re:April Fool's Day by saskboy · 2007-04-01 00:36 · Score: 1
  
  "Just an excuse to be a lying asshole and get away with it. Much like alcohol, or drugs."
  
  But without the hang over, or jail time!
  
  Thank you Slashdot for providing a safe and effective fix!
  
  --
  Saskboy's blog is good. 9 out of 10 dentists agree.
2. Re:April Fool's Day by DaFallus · 2007-04-01 02:53 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  Just an excuse to be a lying asshole and get away with it. Much like alcohol, or drugs.
  
  Not having a sense of humor; just an excuse to be an asshole and get away with it. Much like alcohol, or drugs. Get over yourself.
  
  --
  No one cares what your captcha was
  
  Houston TX, USA
Mod me insightful for no particular reason by aussie_a · 2007-03-31 19:57 · Score: 4, Insightful

Come on. Come oooooon.
1. Re:Mod me insightful for no particular reason by Anonymous Coward · 2007-03-31 20:18 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Mod me up. I need the karma.
2. Re:Mod me insightful for no particular reason by fucksl4shd0t · 2007-03-31 21:00 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Holy shit, that actually worked? Can I get modded funny for no particular reason?
  
  --
  Like what I said? You might like my music
3. Re:Mod me insightful for no particular reason by ceeam · 2007-03-31 21:40 · Score: 1
  
  Stolen. :-|
  
  OK, now - can I get a reply for no particular reason?
4. Re:Mod me insightful for no particular reason by logixoul · 2007-03-31 21:49 · Score: 2
  
  Ok, so when did *this* meme start? :)
5. Re:Mod me insightful for no particular reason by serialdogma · 2007-03-31 21:56 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Share the love, mod me insightful.
6. Re:Mod me insightful for no particular reason by nbritton · 2007-03-31 22:03 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  Yeah but can you get modded +5 troll?
7. Re:Mod me insightful for no particular reason by ceeam · 2007-03-31 22:13 · Score: 1
  
  Cool. What's the longest reply chain in /. history, BTW?
8. Re:Mod me insightful for no particular reason by tsajeff · 2007-04-01 00:48 · Score: 1
  
  Go Browns!!
9. Re:Mod me insightful for no particular reason by TheVelvetFlamebait · 2007-04-01 00:54 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah, yeah, yeah, Mr Moderator. Very funny. I know you knew I was kidding. I will FIND you, and when I do... uh... I'll give you the negative modding of a lifetime.
  
  --
  You know, there is a difference between trolling and pointing out the flaws in your reasoning. Just saying.
10. Re:Mod me insightful for no particular reason by EonBlueTooL · 2007-04-01 02:31 · Score: 1
  
  Backfire!
11. Re:Mod me insightful for no particular reason by PachmanP · 2007-04-01 05:30 · Score: 1
  
  no idea but if I had mod points I'd mod someone with the answer
  
  --
  You're thinking small. Why miniaturize the laser, when we could instead enlarge the sharks? -John Searle
12. Re:Mod me insightful for no particular reason by THE+anonymus+coward · 2007-04-01 06:40 · Score: 1
  
  I'll weigh in on this long chain attempt.
  
  --
  I guess thats all I have to say.
13. Re:Mod me insightful for no particular reason by tutwabee · 2007-04-01 13:01 · Score: 1
  
  [insert punny chain-related joke]
  
  Yes, I did just use the word punny.
Slasdottit by saskboy · 2007-03-31 19:58 · Score: 1

I give this story a Slashdottit rating of + Eleventy One

Glad I don't own an NVidia anymore too ;-)

--
Saskboy's blog is good. 9 out of 10 dentists agree.
So what? by TransEurope · 2007-03-31 19:58 · Score: 3, Interesting

There are more earthshaking News around. Se there http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/87582 (german). The Mozilla Foundation wants 1.4 Billion US$ from Microsoft because of a patent registered in 1922. :-D
This could be a boon for the Netflix Prize by Baldrson · 2007-03-31 20:01 · Score: 1

This could really boost the NVIDIA Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA) hence number crunching projects like the Netflix Prize, which needs a second wind right about now due to a slowdown of progress in recent weeks. This depends, of course, on the detected error not being critical to the programs compiled for the 8800 hardware by CUDA, and on NVIDIA making the returned 8800s available for CUDA programmers.

--
Seastead this.
Ah, hell, date changed. by The_Shadows · 2007-03-31 20:02 · Score: 2

Articles like these are why I'll once again be staying away from the internet on April Fools Day.

-signing off until 0001, 04-02-07
1. Re:Ah, hell, date changed. by Graemee · 2007-04-01 08:11 · Score: 1
  
  April fools last 47 hrs on the net. Actually that maybe a minimum.
Fucking stupid by d_jedi · 2007-03-31 20:03 · Score: 2, Insightful

nt.

--
I am the maverick of Slashdot
Mmm...beer. by Kadin2048 · 2007-03-31 20:10 · Score: 2, Insightful

Much like alcohol, or drugs.

So, in other words, you mean "awesome"?

--
"Ladies and gentlemen, my killbot features Lotus Notes and a machine gun. It is the finest available."
For those who actually RTFA, a link to secret page by Devistater · 2007-03-31 20:17 · Score: 3, Informative

If you RTFA you'll notice they tell you about a secret page you can reach by answering a quiz. Here's the link: http://www.techarp.com/0104.htm Quote from it: "Unfortunately, there is no secret page where you can buy cheap NVIDIA cards. How we wish it were true though. Graphics cards are so very expensive."
haha by blackwing0013 · 2007-03-31 20:19 · Score: 1

From the article:

NVIDIA might recall all affected cards and replace them right away with GeForce 8600 Ultra/GTS cards, and offer those affected a free day-trip to NVIDIA HQ and lunch with NVIDIA CEO and President, Huang Jen-Hsun.

APRIL FOOLS!
1. Re:haha by PSXer · 2007-03-31 20:21 · Score: 1
  
  Why would I want to have lunch with the CEO of NVIDIA? People scare me!
Pink Ponies ... by i_wanna_be_a_scienti · 2007-03-31 20:28 · Score: 1

Give me them any day ... just stop with these articles!!!
stupid tags by OrangeTide · 2007-03-31 20:35 · Score: 3, Insightful

I think I would enjoy the prank more if it didn't say aprilfools right on the slashdot tagging.

--
“Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
1. Re:stupid tags by evilviper · 2007-04-01 00:34 · Score: 1
  
  I think I would enjoy the prank more if it didn't say aprilfools right on the slashdot tagging.
  
  My sincere apologies...
  
  Would "omgponies" be more to your liking?
  
  --
  Slashdot gets worse every day... Pipedot: News for nerds, without the corporate slant
2. Re:stupid tags by OrangeTide · 2007-04-02 05:10 · Score: 1
  
  Is that a hint of sarcasm in your keystrokes?
  
  --
  “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
Happy April 1st... by ceeam · 2007-03-31 20:45 · Score: 1

... Happy lawsuit!
Re:ATTN: SWITCHEURS! by JackMeyhoff · 2007-03-31 21:08 · Score: 1

And they wonder why Linux is not fit for the desktop/laptop and why there will wont be any driver support and why theyre wont be OEM's queueing up to bundle it.

--
http://www.rense.com/general79/wdx1.htm
Goddammit, I hate April Fool's day. by Mex · 2007-03-31 21:08 · Score: 2

I was hoping Slashdot wouldn't participate this year, but ... Ugh.
1. Re:Goddammit, I hate April Fool's day. by Proofof.+Chaos · 2007-03-31 21:58 · Score: 1
  
  I assumed "free Boobs" would be an April Fools link too. I am happily mistaken.
This one's actually true by Dachannien · 2007-03-31 21:42 · Score: 1

...Except the killer bug is called "Vista".
How about a bigger recall? by BillGatesLoveChild · 2007-03-31 22:25 · Score: 1

This is a good step, but support from nVidia in the past has been poor. I bought an nVidia 5700 two years ago and the driver hangs. This is known popularly as the "nv4_disp infinite loop bug". Searched on Google and many others have had the same problem. But you can't get anything done about it, and it affects the 6xxx and 7xxx series cards too.

nVidia tell you to technical support requests must go to the OEM card maker. But all the OEM card maker does is slap chips on a board. They don't know about the inner workings of drivers and nVidia know that. If you ask on the nVidia forum, they always say "download and install the latest driver". I and many others have been doing that for the last two years and it makes no difference. The funny thing is nVidia don't have any presence on their own forums. As they say their 'User Forums' are "with your fellow NVIDIA users". *NOT* nVidia!!!! They offer e-mail support.. for products purchased but *ONLY OFF* the nVidia website. But nVidia sell their cards through OEMs!!! In other words, you can't get any support from them. http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=4432& st=100 http://www.nvidia.com/page/support.html

So, nVidia, you've been slowly trashing your own name for years. Glad you're taking this issue seriously, but your lack of support on all your past cards is chasing us into the arms of ATI. I hope they can do better. In the tech industry you can't sell a box without support and expect to keep a good name.
1. Re:How about a bigger recall? by BillGatesLoveChild · 2007-04-01 12:04 · Score: 1
  
  Ah crap. Problem with Time Zones. It's April 1 different times at different places.
  
  But nVidia giving support? Silly me. I should have spotted that straight away. :(O)| -- egg on face
2. Re:How about a bigger recall? by ShooterNeo · 2007-04-01 12:07 · Score: 1
  
  Hey, I had this problem for a while. The bug would "kick in" while playing Black and White 2. A hard system lock : made me fear a hardware problem.
  
  I made three changes, as suggested by googling, that seem to have fixed it. (I was getting the bug about once per hour in the game, I have not had the error since...which is just groovy, since it BSODs your whole box)
  
  I disabled write combining (troubleshoot tab of windows advanced display properties)
  
  I change a cache setting in the registry by adding another key (google for it)
  
  I never use 4x AA (for some reason, Nvidia cards...even the flagship 8800 series, will hardlock in 4xAA in several games)
  
  And of course I reinstalled my drivers with the latest version, yada yada, and changed my RAM voltage to manufacturer's specs.
  
  No way to tell which of the above steps actually fixed the problem, but B&W2 stopped crashing and that was all I was after when I did all this.
3. Re:How about a bigger recall? by BillGatesLoveChild · 2007-04-03 10:24 · Score: 1
  
  Hey thanks for that ShooterNeo! I'll give it a shot. (hey: that pun was unintentional :-) Failing that manufacturers are producing AGP cards again so a shiny new ATI card is now an option.
you know by waspleg · 2007-03-31 22:28 · Score: 1

this is how presidents are elected; thanks for showing why it doesn't work.

waspleg
I just submitted mine! by tacokill · 2007-04-01 00:46 · Score: 3, Funny

I just submitted my card for return.

I hope it comes back with a new pony. OMG Poni3Z!!!!!!
G80 problems by Verunks · 2007-04-01 00:55 · Score: 1

geforce 8800 have real problem with shadows, for example in oblivion and splinter cell double agent shadows are really aliased, while on call of juarez they flash continuosly
Mod parent as underrated! by nbritton · 2007-04-01 01:21 · Score: 1

Only on slashdot could a stooge come along and screw up a +5 troll rating.
This is cruel by marcomarrero · 2007-04-01 02:36 · Score: 1

Why not pink ponies!? :( Actually in my nVidia 6600GT something in the 3D unit was cooked to death, and I even had the temp monitor on. When I installed Vista all I got was a giant unreadable psychedelic desktop. Now I have Direct3D off. :(

For a millisecond, when I read "nVidia recall" - I saw hope. :(
Vertex Shader? by geordieboy · 2007-04-01 02:56 · Score: 1

Is this April Fools even technically plausible? I thought shaders were programs written by users to alter geometry/fragment processing. So there is no "vertex shader" on the card.

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The world is everything that is the case
1. Re:Vertex Shader? by implicit · 2007-04-01 03:53 · Score: 1
  
  There really is a such a thing as a vertex shader, but it's not really plausible because nVidia could correct it by adding a hack to the drivers.
I FUCKING KNEW IT. Nvidia !!!! by Jackie_Chan_Fan · 2007-04-01 04:34 · Score: 1

No drivers since Jan 10....

fuckers. I knew it :)
I just died of boredom ... by hachete · 2007-04-01 06:37 · Score: 1

... only an insightful mod of +1 is keeping the corpse alive. An funny mod of +2 is keeping me from going zombie on the mother-fucking slashdot editors, although if I see some flame-bait out there ...

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Patriotism is a virtue of the vicious
God, I wish this were true... by busydoingnothing · 2007-04-01 07:12 · Score: 2, Interesting

I have an XFX 8800GTX and ever since I installed that sucker, I've been getting BSODs out the arse. I've already had it replaced once; no dice. I've tried all the latest drivers; no dice. I've updated the BIOS, uninstalled and reinstalled the sound card, performed voodoo magic; no dice. Something is surely messed up here. My power supply is 620W and definitely enough to handle the card. I really don't understand what the hell is going on, but it's seriously unacceptable.
1. Re:God, I wish this were true... by kalirion · 2007-04-02 01:58 · Score: 1
  
  Is it an established brand name power supply? I've read that the cheap ones, and especially ones that come with cases, often aren't as "powerful" as advertized. Plus something about 12v rails and stuff that I don't really understand myself but will need to once I finally get around to building my new computer.
Hook, Line and Sinker by triso · 2007-04-01 07:44 · Score: 1

Man! That one reeled me right in. No jokes or sarcasm either. I even did the discount website thing. At least I didn't forward copies to friends who have 8800 cards.
wow by Unicorn+Giggles · 2007-04-01 12:07 · Score: 1

Yeah, I bought it, until I looked at the comments, but you have to expect it, I just ordered an 8800 last night, and it had me scared.
Too many April Fool's articles by jmpeax · 2007-04-01 14:40 · Score: 1

Please Slashdot, one per category maximum! I want some actual news.

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Amnesty International
Re:Actually quite lame by mikael · 2007-04-01 14:47 · Score: 2, Interesting

The one that got me was the Council inspectors to demand £5 'carbon offset' for barbecues

It is quite believable now in the UK, that local councils would spend millions of pounds in order to emply inspectors to wander around home owners gardens checking to see if they had a barbecue in use without a permit.

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Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads
42 by Kuvter · 2007-04-01 17:06 · Score: 1

This post was rated 42, thats the only reason I read it.

I searched and searched, but found no answer to life, /. you failed me again.

Now I'm going to have to go to the bar again and see if any drunk chicks have the answer.

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"To be is to do." --Socrates
"To do is to be." -- Aristotle
"Do-Be-Do-Be-Do..." --Sinatra
Sad but True. by sylvainsf · 2007-04-02 19:24 · Score: 1

I just upgraded to a Geforce 8800GTS with the hopes of it being my last upgrade for a long time. Sadly when hooked up to my 46" Sharp Aquos 1080p TV, the 8800 overscans a bit. Now with my previous card, a Geforce 7600 I was able to simply use the HDTV Desktop Resize function of the nvidia drivers to fix the problem. This function does NOTHING on the 8800. Nvidia's website says: Question Overscan/Underscan setting does not work on Geforce 8800GTX/8800GTS Answer Overscan compensation is not supported on GeForce 8800 based graphics cards when connecting to many HDTVs over a digital interface (i.e. DVI). To enable overscan compensation, users can connect to their HDTV via Y Pr Pb component output from the 7-pin mini-din connector on the graphics card using the cable adapter included in most retail boxes. So this is a HUGE PROBLEM. Switching to the component output makes the card NO LONGER HDCP COMPLIANT. In other words you can only watch DRM protected HD content downscaled! Talk about a HUGE ripoff since the company claims the card is HDCP compliant, yet the cards don't work properly on common HDTVs!